Peter mcmurray



(No Model.) 2 SheetsSheet 1. P MOMURRAY AGETYLBNE GAS GENERATOR.

No. 599,347. Patented FebfZZ, 1898.

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2 Sheets' Sheet 2.

(No Model.)

P. MGMUBRAY. ACBTYLENE GAS GENERATOR.

Patented Feb. 22, 1898.

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PETER MOMURRAY, OF WELLAND, CANADA.

ACETYLENEMGAS GENERATOR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters latent No. 599,347, dated February 22, 1898. Application tiled J'uly 22, 1897. Serial No. 645,631. (No model.)

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that l, PETER MGMURRAY, of the town of Welland, in the county of Velland and Province of Ontario, Canada, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Acetylene-Gas Generators, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to an improved apparatus for generating acetylene gas from calcium carbid by automatically regulating the quantity of water applied to the carbid and in various devices by which the generator may be cleaned out and the carbid replaced with little trouble and the least possible loss of gas. l attain these objects by the mechanism illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure l is an elevation of an acetylene-gas machine embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a vertical section of the generator. Fig. 8 is a top view of the machine as it appears on the removal of the lid of the generator. Fig. 4c is a vertical section of the regulator for supplying the proper amount of water to the carbid. Fig. 5 is a horizontal section of the valve K of the regulator shown in Fig. fl. Fig. 6 is a section showing the construction of the handle for shaking the grate or screen on which the carbid is placed, and Fig. 7 is a section of a ball-cock for shutting off the supply of water to the vessel containing the carbid when it is nearly full. 1

Similar letters refer to similar parts thro ughout the several views.

A gasometer somewhat of the ordinary construction is employed for storing gas and consists of a base A and cap C, which fits loosely into the base A. A framework of rods or gas-pipe r' is fitted into the top of A, and the guide-rollers or pulleys s, fitted to the top of the cap C, engage the rods r and prevent the cap from turning, while it is allowed to play freely up and down.

G is avessel for holding water to be added to the carbid as required and is secured on top of the framework of rods r or in other position elevated above the regulator F and generator B. The regulator F is secured near the top of the base A of the gasometer, as shown in the drawings, and is connected with the vessel G by the tube or metal pipe 71,.

The valve K has a fluted or triangular shaft and a circular-turned end, and when it is opened by downward pressure on the arm y it allows the water to pass through from the tube h. Vhen the pressure on the arm y is released, a spring x lifts up the valve K, so that the circular-turned end fills the opening and stops the iiow of water. A packing-box a prevents the leakage of water around the shaft of the valve K.

To the regulator F is attached the elastic pipe or tube m, which passes through the lid D of the generator B and terminates at the top of the pail d, as shown in Fig. 2. The tube m is made of elastic material instead of metal in order that the lid D, to which it is attached, may be easily removable.

B is the outer part of the acetylene-gas generator and has its upper part double, as shown in the drawings, for the purpose of holding water.

d is a pail or receptacle which ts snugly into B and can be easily lifted out and removed by means of the handle g. The handle g is secured to lugs fitted on the inside of the pail cl. The calcium carbid from which the acetylene gas is to be generated is placed on the metallic screen or grate e in the pail d. The grate e rests on the rod f, which is xed horizontally in the pail cl, as shown in the drawings. To the rim of the grate e is attached the handle or shaker p, which is com posed of two parts, as shown in Fig. 6. The two parts of the shaker are joined together by means of the nut p, and they can be readily detached by revolving the upper portion horizontally. The packing-box w, which is secured to the lid D, prevents the escape of gas around the handle p while it is being pulled up or pressed down when being used to agitate the grate c, to which it is attached. The lower portion of the shaker p passes through the sleeve jp", which is secured to the inside of the pail d. By raising or lowering the shaker p the screen e, containing the carbid, is agitated and the refuse shaken to the bottom of the pail d. The lid D covers the pail d and iits loosely into the double portion of B, as shown in Fig. 2. It has handles d' of ordinary construction and is secured in place and kept from being lifted up with the pressure of gas by three catches c, which pass through openings near the top of the outer rim of B. In the lid D is the receiver D@ being a small receptacle over the pipe u, which carries the gas formed in the generator to the gasometer. The generator B, pail d, and lid D are preferably constructed of galvanized iron. The receiver D' is fitted with a cock cl to allow the inclosed air to escape when it is being set in position.

V is a ball-cock attached to the elastic tube m under the lid D and is placed there in order to prevent the pail d from being overflowed by water from the tube m. When water arises nearly to the top of the pail d, it raises the ball V, which is attached to the arm c, pivoted at c. The water passing through the tube m enters the pail d and falls on the calcium carbid in a spray by passing through the small holes m. The lower end of the tube m is closed by the piston Z9, the upper end of which is composed of rubber. The arm c of the ball-cock V passes through the lower Yend of the piston b at b and is raised by it when the ball V is forced up by water rising in the pail d. The piston b, being thus pressed upward, shuts the Water off from the spray-holes m' and stops any further flow from the vessel G. The cock c is placed at the bottom of the double portion of B in order to drain out the water when required.

dv is a cock placed at the bottom of the gastubes, so that all moisture or refuse collecting in the pipes can be easily drawn off, and a" is a cock placed at the bottom of A in order to run all water out of the gasometer.

In the top of the cap C of the gasometer I place a safety-valve Z, constructed somewhat similar to the regulator F. Should a large quantity of acetylene gas at any time be generated too rapidly, owing tov accidental causes, the cap O would rise, and the safety-valve would be opened by being pressed downward by a catch attached to the framework of rods rr" or placed in other suitable position. The waste gas is conveyed away by the pipe Z', a portion of which should be elastic in order to allow the cap C to move freely up or down. A catch n is secured to the top of the cap C, as shown in the drawings, in order to press the arm y of the regulator F downward and open the valve 7c when required.

My acetylene-gas machine is operated as follows: A quantity of calcium carbid is placed on the grate e in the pail d, which is placed in position, as shown in Fig. 2. The upper double portion of Bis nearly filled with water and the lid D is placed in position and secured by the catches c. The base A of the gasometeris filled with water to the bottom of the flaring portion at the top, and water is also poured into the vessel G. The cap C settles down into the base A by its own weight and the catch n presses down on the arm y, thus opening the'valve k and allowing water to flow through the regulator F and spray on the carbid inthe pail d. Acetylene gas is at once generated and, rising into the receiver D', passes downward into the tube u, which is carried through the bottom of the base A of the gasometer and then continued upward to its top. The gas thus rises into the cap C and gradually lifts it up, stopping at the same time the supply of water spraying on the carbid in the pail d, as the catch n is lifted from the arm y and the springs@ closes the valve 7.o. The gas may be drawn off through the pipe r, which passes to the bottom of the gasometer and is also turned upward and carried to the top of the base A, besides being connected with the tube u at the bottom of the gasometer. As the quantity of gas in the gasometer is lessened the cap C settles down into the base A and causes the catchn to again press on the arm y and open the valve 7c, thus allowing water again to flow on the carbid in the pail dand forming an additional supply of gas, as before. Only a small amount of water being thrown on the carbid at a time this operation is continually repeated automatically, as described, and a practically uniform and steady supply of gas is maintained. If required, two or more generators may be connected with the same gasometer. Vhen the carbid in the pail d becomes exhausted and can give off no more gas, the cap C of the gasometer settles down and the catch n keeps the regulator F continuously open, allowing the water to run into the pail d until it is nearly full, when its further flow is stayed by the ball-cock V, as already described. The catch n is so constructed that it may be slipped back so that it no longer engages the arm y of the regulator F. The catch is slipped back and the valve lo is closed. The pail d being nearly full of water very little gas remains in the generator and by turning the cock u any gas in the gasometer is kept from flowing back. Now the lid D may be unfastened and lifted up and the only gas lost is the small quantity in the top of the lid and in the tube u above u. The pail d can now be lifted out, cleaned, and fresh carbid placed therein and the operation repeated, as before.

There a system of Waterworks is in operation, I prefer to connect the vessel G directly with the water-pipes and keep the water at a uniform height in it by controlling the supply by a suitable ball-cock, which allows a sufficient quantity of water to flow into the vessel G as soon as a similar quantity passes out by the tube N.

I am aware that prior to my invention acetylene-gas generators have been used in connection with a gasometer somewhat similarly constructed to the foregoing. I do not 1toherefore claim such a combination broadly;

What I do claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

In an acetylene-gas generator a gasometer,

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and a generator with lid D secured by sldsubstantially as and for the purpose speciable catches c, a ball-Cock V being secured fied. to the under side of said lid, to raise the rubber-tipped piston b to shut the Water off from 5 the spray-holes m when the pail d is full of Witnesses:

Water, in combination With the regulator F, L. CLARKE RAYMOND, having valve 7s, spring a; and mn or lever y MAURICE DYSON.

PETER MO'MURRAY. 

